What kind of a person would run on Interstate 80, with all the commercial vehicles speeding past at 75+ mph? You might think whoever would risk life and limb in such a way is a nut. But Christina Lee, 23, is dedicated and passionate, and is not nuts at all. She is running across America, from New York to San Francisco, to raise $100,000 for the Navy SEAL Foundation.
Lee said she had wanted to join the military herself, but due to a medical condition, she could not. So in an effort to support her country and the men and women who serve it, Lee decided to make her cross-continental journey and raise money for the SEALs and their families.
Lee said she chose the SEAL Foundation because the SEALs do their dangerous work in silence and do not seek recognition for themselves. The foundation, according to its website, provides family and warrior support, educational opportunities, tragedy assistance and survivor support.
Lee passed through Winnemucca over the weekend, and was hosted by local runners who had been following her journey on Facebook. Taniel Sullivan said she was excited to have Lee stay with her for a couple of nights, and took her to dinner at the Martin on Thursday evening. Lee said that because she is Italian, she loved all the garlic and the sizable portions at the Basque restaurant.
Wendy Raynor, of the Winnemucca running club, Got Runs?, explained that on her trip through northern Nevada, Lee is picked up from her stopping point on the road by a host and stays the night in either a home or at a hotel. The host then returns Lee back to the same spot on the highway to continue her run.
"Every mile counts," said Lee. She is hoping to raise $31 for each mile of her 3,300 run.
The Gold Country Inn provided Lee with a complimentary room for two nights, and the Got Runs? runners joined Lee on I-80 for a couple of mornings. Raynor said she ran 15.5 miles with Lee on Saturday morning, and said running on the highway was not that bad.
Lee, too, said that running on the highway was not scary - at least not in terms of physical danger. The frontage and country roads were much worse.
"The country roads have no shoulder, but I-80 has a wide shoulder, and the rumble strip. You can hear it when a car veers off the road," said Lee. She also said that drivers on the highway were more courteous on I-80, whereas the frontage road drivers barely gave her three feet of breathing space.
Lee is carrying her trip essentials, including a journal filled with pictures, notes and road memorabilia, in a 90-pound baby jogger, which she has named Thor. She is stopped at least three times per day to ask if she and her baby need a ride.
"I get stopped a lot more when it storms. I had a 20-person storm once," said Lee. The weather dictates how far she will run on a given day, and on Friday, Lee said the wind had slowed her a bit. She crested Golconda, rounded through Button Point and stopped just short of Winnemucca proper at the first exit going westbound.
Summiting peaks like Golconda is easier than it looks, said Lee. With feet on the ground, the incline is not as severe as when in a car. And, said Lee, it's more stressful on the body to go downhill, especially with the baby jogger.
Lee runs on the eastbound lane, and said she had seen hoof prints for miles. One of her hosts in Elko explained that the Grass March riders had ridden on her same path, but headed east.
As she runs, her mind wanders from just taking in the scenery to thinking about politics. She listens to podcasts on all subjects and will be ready for any trivia challenge when she finishes her journey.
Lee said each state has its own unique look, and Nevada looks nothing like Utah. When she crossed the border, she could tell she was in a different state based on the landscape and her allergies. She is, apparently, allergic to Nevada's flora.
As she nears the end of the road, Lee said she is glad she took the opportunity to see the country.
"I will never have this degree of freedom again. I savor each moment," said Lee. "It's nothing like I thought it would be."
According to her Crowdrise fundraiser page, Lee has raised over $22,000 for the Navy SEAL Foundation. To support Lee in her goal to reach $100,000, visit www.crowdrise.com/runningacrossamerica/fundraiser/christinalee1. For more information about the Navy Seal Foundation, visit www.navysealfoundation.org.[[In-content Ad]]
